Larry Smith is back in the saddle. Taking as the President and CEO of the Montreal Aloutettes, Smith is glad to be back where he feels he belongs. Originally tapped to serve as the selection committee for a replacement for the departed Skip Prince, Smith realized that the best candidate for the job was the guy looking for the replacement.
Team owner Ted Wetenhall said no other candidate was ever seriously considered, Smith returns to the team he built into a league success story after it’s relocation from
Baltimore in 1997. Smith was at the helm when they made the move to McGill, seen as the turning point in the franchises’ fortunes. Since moving into the cozy downtown stadium the ALS have become the success story of Montreal. Winning seasons and Grey Cup appearances going along with the return of football to Montreal.
Smith left the Als in 2001 to take over duties as Publisher at the Montreal Gazette, but Prince’s departure in December opened the door for a return to his passion.
Smith’s other success story has been the boom in football interest across Quebec, his cross province promotion of the game has seen the popularity explode in almost all corners of the province. Creating a strong college football scene and a string of Quebecers starting to make it into the CFL.
His main priority as he takes over is to continue to build on the success of the Als and to expand the capacity of the stadium, eventually to reach around 25,000 seats. A situation which would put the Als on a secure financial footing for the years to come!
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